Orthopedic foot manipulator



Feb. 21, 1939. c OWENS 2,148,322

ORTHOPEDIC FOOT MANIPULATOR Filed Aug. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR' BY Char/e5 Owens e EQWM A TTORNEY c. OWENS 2,148,322

ORTHOPEDIC FOOT MANIPULATOR Filed Aug. 23, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l3 4 I Z I 7 /6 L, -1 L IIIA 'v///// Al INVENTOR Ivar/es Owens Feb. 21, 1939. c. OWENS ORTHOP EDIC FOOT MANIPULATOR Filed Aug. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR Char/es Owens A TTORNEY BY W,

Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention is an adaptation of the device disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 734,045, filed on July 6, 1934, to. an apparatus for personal use of the device, the apparatus being particularly of the type which is coin controlled.

In this regard an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which enables a person to use the foot treatment device successfully without the presence of an operator.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section of the foot rest member.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the complete apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus, the side wall of the cabinet being removed to show the relation of the parts to each other.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the coin controlled mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an elevation wall being removed.

I employ a cabinet 20, approximately 7 inches high, surrounded on four sides by a suitable railing Hi, the said railing having an opening at one corner for entrance and exit as shown in plan view Fig. 3.

Located on a base of this cabinet is a motor operated foot manipulator 16, carrying a vertically exposed member [1. It will be noted that this exposed member l'l extends through an opening and slightly above the top surface of the cabinet 20. The opening through which the member I! extends is guarded by an upstanding shield l6 which prevents a patients foot from getting caught beneath the stirrup, to be described below.

I is a sleeved base, carrying a spring 8 mounted stirrup 9, having a plunger 4, see Fig. 1. This stirrup 9, has a heel surface 15, and a saddle member 2, the saddle member being reinforced by leather covered rubber pads 6, 6, located at either side, see Fig. 2. These pads are held to the saddle member by clamps 5, shown best in Fig. 1, and are held to the saddle member by screws II. To guide the downward movement of the stirrup or foot rest member 9, it is provided with a depending projection 3 which enters and is guided by the walls of an opening through the upper platform of the cabinet.

It will be noted that this saddle 2, is forward of the heel surface I5, and at an angle thereto, both transversely and longitudinally. The longitudinal angle is arranged to conform to the inof Fig. 5, part of the side step of the foot, while the transverse angles are designed tocup the foot over the manipulator member IT.

From the foregoing description it is readily apparent that when the foot is inserted into the stirrup, the underside of the foot will be exposed to the action of'the manipulator member I1, .While on the other hand the heel of the foot will rest on the heel surface l5. Therefore, as a result of this arrangement, pressure of-the heel will bring the under surface of the foot in contact with the manipulator member ll, in a cupped position by virtue of the angle of the pads and action of the heel surface l5, thereby approximating the manipulative character of the treatment described in my copyrighted technique published in 1934. The title of this publication is The Owens Orthopedic Foot Technique, a copy of which may be obtained from the Orthopedic Foot Manipulator Company, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Securely fastened to the railing Id, at one corner as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, is a coin box IE. Near one end of this box I2, is a time switch 22; I 3, is the coin plunger. The time switch 22 is operated by a lever 26. noted that this switch 22 is located in such a relation to the coin plunger I3 as to bring the lever 26, in the line of travel of the plunger. The disposition of these parts is such that at the point where the lever 26 has thrown the switch its position of contact, the coin plunger also have reached its coin.

Wires 25, connect the switch 22, with the motor l6 operating manipulator l1; consequently, as soon as the switch 22, has been brought into contact position by the lever 26, the manipulator I!, will be set in motion and continue until automatically shut off by the time switch itself.

[3, will position of delivery of its 23, is a numbering device operated by a lever 21. It will be noted that this lever 21, is located in the path of travel of the switch lever 26; as a consequence, when the lever 26, is operated by the coin plunger IS, the lever 21, will thus also be operated to register the number of coins deposited.

It will be seen that the saddle and the ball I! or foot manipulator engage the main. portion of the foot, that is to say, that part of the foot in advance of the heel.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In a foot manipulator, a cabinet, a foot manipulator located therein in such a position as to bring its manipulator member slightly above the top of the cabinet and upon which the under It will be u 22, into surface of the foot may contact in a cupped position, a stirrup member yieldingly mounted in relation to the manipulator member, the said stirrup having a. base portion upon which the heel of the foot rests and a saddle member for engaging the upper surface of the main portion of the foot, the under side of the main portion of the foot being thereby free for contact with the manipulator member, whereby, the exposed under surface of the foot may be brought into contact with the manipulator member by the downward movement of the heel rest and the stirrup due to the downward pressure of the heel of the patient exerted upon the heel rest, thereby imparting a manipulative action to the foot.

2. In combination a vibrating arm, a member carried thereby to contact the bottom of the foot of a patient, a rest for the heel of the patient, said rest being movable relative to said member, and means carried by the heel rest bending the foot downwardly at its sides to give an inverted cup shape to its under side contacted by said member.

3. In combination with a vibrating member, a rest for the heel of the foot to be treated, and a saddle projecting from the forward edge of said rest upwardly and forwardly at an inclination to said rest and over a free space forward of the edge of said rest, said saddle having bearing portions to contact the side margins of the foot for pressing them downwardly when the foot contacts with the vibrating member, said heel rest being yieldingly supported so that pressure of the heel will move said rest downwardly to bring the underside of the saddle controlled portion of the foot upon the vibrating member.

4. In a foot manipulator, a vibrating member to contact the under surface of the foot forward of the heel, an arm carrying said member, means for operating said arm, a heel rest arranged adjacent but off to one side of said vibrating member and movable in a general direction lengthwise of said arm to apply the foot to said vibrating member or retract it therefrom, means for guiding said heel rest and spring means for retracting the heel rest when pressure of the heel is withdrawn therefrom, said heel rest having a stem and said guiding means comprising a vertically disposed guide movably receiving said heel rest stem, said spring means yieldingly supporting said stem.

CHARLES OWENS. 

